Ventilator



Dec.14,1948. c, DAMS 2,456,391

VENTILATOR Filed 15%. 12, 1944 .2 sheets-"sheet 1 lNVENTOR (harks 17a 05b;

Dec.14,194 8. f c. DAVIES 2,456,391

' VENTILATOR I Filed Dec. l2, l944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 1 I INVENTOR 50 I Charles fizz/Jed a; Y 7 I AT @RNEYZ Patented Dec. 14;, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE VENTILATOR Charles Davies, New Rochelle, N. Y.

Application December 12, 1944, Serial No. 567,831

9 Claims.

My present invention relates generally to ventilators, and has particular reference to the type of ventilator that is mounted in a wall opening, for example, an opening produced by partly elevating a window.

A general object of the invention is to provide a device which is inexpensive to manufacture, easyto install, easily adjustable to effect different ventilating functions, simple to control, compact and workmanlike in structure, and attractive in appearance. I p A A more particular object of the invention is to provide a device of the kind in which the ventilation of a room may be selectively controlled by either introducing fresh air into the room, recirculating the air in the room, or exhausting the air from the room. These objectives are not new per se, but ventilators heretofore designed for this purpose are, relatively cumbersome and complicated, .and usually require a multiplicity of independent adjustments and manipulations to bring the parts into the proper functioning relationships. By means of my improved ventilator, the

rotative adjustment of only a single element, and 2,5

the manipulation of only a single control handle or the like, are sufficient to bring the .parts successively into "the various relationships necessary to accomplish the different types of ventilation.

Briefly stated, the present construction consists essentially of a fixed cylindrical housing mounted in the wall opening, and a cylindrical drum mounted for concentric rotation within the housing. The housing is provided with a pair of apertures arranged respectively on the inner and outer sides of the wall within which the ventilator is mounted. The drum is'provided with circumferentially-spaced inlet and outlet ports, and is of hollow construction, a blower being mounted within the drum to draw air through the inlet port and expel'it through the outlet port.

The successful achievement of the advantages of the present construction resides in a predetermined unique proportioning of the drum ports and the housing apertures whereby a mere rotative adjustment of the drum automatically and successively establishes communication (a) from the outer aperture to the inner aperture (for pure ingress of air), (1)) from the outer aperture and a part of the inneraperture to another part of the latter (for partial ingress and partial recirculation of air), (0) 1 from a part of the inner aperture to another part thereof (for pure recirculation of air), and (d) from the inner aperture to the outer aperture (for egress of air). In the preferred construction, the housing includes a shell-like portion of semi-cylindrical shape and of open-Work construction which fits over the inner aperture, this shell being provided with a medial band having a groove therein, whereby the rotative adjustments of the drum may be conveniently achieved by securing a control handle to the drum and causing it to project outwardly through the slot. I prefer to associate a means with this handle for permitting it to be releasably secured in engagement with the shell so as to retain the drum in any selected position. I prefer also to associate the control handle with a means for controlling the operation of the blower. In this way, the manual grasping and manipulation of a single handle member is all that is required of the user of the device.

I achieve the foregoing general objects and advantages, and such other objects and advantages as may hereinafter appear to be pointed out, in the manner illustratively exemplified in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a ventilator construction'in accordance with the present invention, shown for illustrative purposes in association with a partly opened window of a room;

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along the line 22 of Figure 1, showing the parts in a relationship in which air from the outside is introduced into the room;

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 showing the parts adjusted into a relationship in which recirculation of the air within the room is 8.0001111 plished;

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figures 2 and 3 showing the parts in an adjusted relationship in which air is withdrawn or exhausted from the room to the exterior;

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along the line 55 of Figure 2;

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary crosssectional View taken substantially along the line 66 of Figure 4;

Figure '7 is a perspective view of the drum by itself;

Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure '7 depicting the drum from the opposite side; and

Figure 9 is a diagrammatice view showing the special proportioning of ports and apertures, constituting a characterizing feature of the present invention.

In Figures 1-41 have illustratively shown a ventilator of the present character mounted in a wall opening defined by a partially elevated window iii, the side frames of the window being designated II, and the window sill being desighated l2. It will be understood that the invention is not restricted to a mounting of this particular character, and that the external parts of the ventilator construction may be designed in any suitable or convenient fashion for fitting the ventilator into association with the wall opening in which it is to be mounted.

As hereinbefore stated, the construction in- Volves a fixed housing and a rotatable drum. The main part of; the rhousing is cylindrical shape and comprises the parts 13 and M3. Theseparts are circumferentially spaced from each other, so that the edge (of the part It (of the part I4) define between them a relatively wide aperture on the inner side of the Walli Referring to Figure 9, it will be noted that this,

aperture has a Width of approximately 155.

I3) and the edge;

Similarly, the space between the edgel l' dot-the part l3) and the edge I8 (of the part l4):r.de,1?mes-.

a somewhat narrowen=aperture (approximately tizciasbestindicated i jFieu n the opp s t prouter side 'of'the Wall; AsshownjiniFigures 2-5, the housing includes also aport'ion 19 which may be of any suitable shape andjwhichjis arranged over the outeraperture flliisjhqusing portion may be substantially 'rfectangiilarin contour, as shown'in the illustrated structure, ,anfljispreferably provided with an air filter flfllfixedly mountedjin; the. angular relationship shown, so that air entering through the opening 2! will travel'through'the filter'Zl) before passinginto the outeraperturabetween the edges 13andjlil of the cylihdricalhousing portion.

On'the other orinner sideof the wall, the'housing, is;provided with ashe'l-l-liike ,portionyzz which is semi-cylindrical in shape ,and of open-work construction topermit free passage ,of air through it; This shell, as shown .mosflclearly in Figure. 1, is arranged over the inner housing aperture, i. e.,

the relatively-wide aperturejbety een the edges I5 and I6 the cylindrical housing portion. The I shell, 22 is provided with opposed end walls 23 of substantialiy semi circular shape,- and the open- Work constrhctionmay consist in the provision of spacedrods"pr-;slats :24 "arranged in parallelism along *the cylindrical-surfaced"the shell; In a rnedial-pprtion of =the ;shell,1 a, circumferential banii ifi dyprevfdedgthis*band lhaving a slot '26 therein? The main movable 'eleinent of 'the present assemblyisdhe'hollow cylindrical drum-shown most clearly-in Figures'fi'a-ndiiis This drum has a cylindrical wall portion-"zland-is provided with an inlet port 28 (Figure 8) and at least one outlet por'tfZS (Figure- 'ID': The-Widthof thejinletport 28 is defined by theopposed parallel edges '30 and $1.- Upon ieference tdFi'gureQ; it will be observed that the width of this portis approximately 155 its-function and-operation are not impaired by -the provision of a medialbridging wall Earns shown most=clearly -in Figure 8, this wall being: -desirable. icr reinforcing purposes. The width of the outlet port 29 is defined by the opposediedges fltand flz An inspection of' Figure 9 will indicate that this width is approximately.

irimthe illustrated embodiment, I have shown two outlet ports iin rtl'i 'edrum,'but-thisrepresents aimere rduplioa-tionof part-s, and the description ornthe:zinvention wiilitherefore be confined -to=one pantie} and iitsiassooiated e'lements.

Within the drum, I provide a centrifugal blower .35; as shown 'mosticlearly in Figures 2-4.- This hlowerrmay biesofv 'anyconventional construction, andvconsists essentially of a housing "of volute sharing-the; outlet beingiinregist-ry .with, and thus defining, the outlet port 29. Within this housing there is the usual impeller 36, provided with circumferentially-arranged blades, and mounted for rotation upon an axle or shaft 31. The opposite ends of the blower housing are open, and when the impeller rotates, it draws air through these axial openings and expels it centrifugally through the volute housing and out of the outlet port 29.

The housing of the blower may be secured to the interior ofirthe drumain .apysuitable or desired manner, and 31 have illustratively shown a strut 38 for accomplishing this purpose.

Where two outlet ports are provided, as is preferable, a second blower of identical construction is associated with the other port.

,ALSQ' mounted within the drum is an electric motor 39 (see Figure 8), supported in a similar mannertby meanstof struts 40 or the like, and axially aligned with the blower or blowers. The shaft of the motor islconnected to the blower shaft or shafts. Wheretwo blowers are employed, an efiicient construction results from; mounting the blowers on opposite sides of the motor, respectively.

From-the description given, it will be obvious that the blower operates to-draw air into the drum :through the inlet port 28 and to expel it out ofthedrum through-the outlet port 29. i The drum is mounted-for concentric rotation withinthecylindrieal housing, and-a convenient methodof mounting the --parts lies in providing stub shafts 4! at opposite ends of the drum, and -journaling= these-shafts; in suitable bearings 42 carried by the end-walls- 2;3 of'the shell portion of the-housing.

The operationwof -the-device depends upon the proportioning of-parts as indicated in 'Figure '9. The innerand outerapertures-in thehousing, and the inlet and outlet ports of the drum have the approximate :relative widths shown. Additionally it should be observed that the shorter 'housingiwall portion l3 overs an arc,of approximately lfljrand th shorter wa i o i 3 .01 th drum l ying;btw,e ni he et nd ou et port scorer an arc ofanpv x m elyflfi.

s a es t oit nspredeterminednroport onm o e .elements,..the mer rotat on .of thed iurn, is umcient to ad ust. the. dericednt the differen relat onships neqes anv tnach ev td fierent ven ilatingeffects, with the parts inithe relationsh psshowni igur aiitiwill -ben bs e thatsthe .inletmo tof the. drumis in g y :wit hetquterzanerturaof th -ho s ng; W i e t e utleaportofutherdruniti inlmsist mithl h lo endireeioniofth rinner honsineep tu a -As a resnltawhenit erblonen n ratesiair w l be d aw thtoughthamterzzfleandezgn ll i nt th irs- 01 on; the-Tether for. donor side of b Wa -l, Wh th -admin is ,rotated: ima-counterclos wis r i FB tion asivi wedin the p esentdrawin s th inl t porter-the drumewilhultimet l rreaqhamesiti in .which; it ine cmmnnieat onrpartly th outer houei ra command-partly w th t inne holi fi n -zaperiunee 'TfiSHGlfiilliQl'l Sb-i'fiiflf parts 'is not shnwniimthe drawings, =bBi=ng,zan intermediatespositiorriwitlrarespect to=:the .-positions shown in-iliig ures :2 :and 23.: *In :suchintermediate posijtion,rtheipartsuare.soarrangeddhatisome air will be drawnwintokthe room f-rom th'e outside, while someiairiwillsimultaneouslybe recirculated with: in theroom itself. A further; rotative adjustment of -theatlrumwill bring -the parts into the relationships shown in' Figure"3. :It will be 010- served {that -the --outer housing aperture is now Sealed by the drum, and-that theinletport ,of the drum is in registry only with the, inner housing aperture, The outlet port 'of thedrum iszstill, in registry with the inner housingaperture, and as a'result :the operation of the blowerwill serve to draw air from the room into the lower region of thehousing aperture and will expelthe air back into the room through the upper region of' the housing aperture. Thus, a pure recirculation of air is achieved. v

A still further rotativeadjustment' of the drum will bring the parts into the relationships shown in Figured- The outlet port of thedrum is now in registry with the outer housing aperture, 'as--'a result of which air will be exhausted from the room to the exterior.

It will be observed that these various results are achieved'by rotatingxthe'zdrumthrough approximately 155. This rotation may be manually efiected by means of the control handle designated generally by the reference numeral 44, this handle being secured to thedrum (preferably in the region 43) and projecting through the slot 26. A preferred handle construction and mounting are shown in Figure 6.1' The handle" 44 has been shown in the form of aknob secured to the end of a shaft 45 which projects into association with'anelectric switch 46 secured to" the drum portion 43 by means of studs or equivalent fastening elements 41. The switch 46 may be of any known or conventional character, and for this reason its detailed construction has not been illustrated. Sufiice it to point out that the switch is of such a character that the rotation of the shaft 45 by means of the knob 44 will turn the switch on and on; and if desired, the switch may include a rheostat whereby continued rotation of the knob will bring more or less of the rheostat into action to control the amount of current.

The shaft 45 is mounted within a sleeve 48 which is preferably threaded at its end to receive a nut 49. By means of this nut, and a cooperating shoulder 50, a tubular element is secured to the sleeve 48. At its inner end, the element 5! is provided with a flange 52 which bears against the rear face of the medial band 25. The element 5| is also exteriorly threaded to receive an adjustment wheel 53 which may be turned to increase or relieve pressure upon a washer 54 which bears against the outer surface of the band 25.

The switch mechanism 46 is of course connected to the electric motor 39 by suitable wiring (not shown) whereby the manipulation of the knob 44 will serve to establish or disconnect an electric connection to the motor. By slightly loosening the control wheel 53, the drum may be adjusted into any selected one of its various positions, and by re-tightening the wheel 53, the washer 54 is caused to bear frictionally against the band 25 to hold the drum in the adjusted position.

It will thus be observed, that the manipulation of a single handle is all that is needed to control the operation of the blower (or blowers), and to shift the drum into the proper position to accomplish the type of ventilation which is desired. Because of the absence of movable baffles, louvers, valves, or other similar elements, the operation of the device is simplified to a highly desirable degree; as a result of which there is a reduced likelihood of any faulty adjustments and consequent faulty functioning of the apparatus. Moreover,

6 the single control handle makes it possibleto de.-- sign the structure ina more attractivemanner, unmarred by the presence of. extraneous levers, knobs, or control elements.

In general it will be understood that the details herein described andillustrated, except those which-are specifically referred to in the claims; may'obviously be modified in a number of respects by those skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit and scope of the inventionfas expressed inthe appended claims. It is therefore intended that such details be interpreted asbeing purely illustrative. v

Having'thus described my invention and illus trated its use, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: r 1. In a ventilator for awall opening, a fixed cylindrical housing mounted in said opening with its axis horizontal and provided with apertures onthe inner and outer-sides of said wall respectively," a hollow cylindrical drum mountedfo'r concentric rotation within said housing in snugly contacting relation thereto, said drum having closed ends and being provided with circumferentially-spaced inlet and outlet ports lying respec-' tively in diametrically opposite semicircular segments of the drum periphery, and a blower mount-5 ed withinthe drum to draw air through the inlet port and expel it through the outlet port, the drum interior'being unobstructed except for said blower.

2. In a ventilator, the combination with the elements set forth in claim 1, of a housing portion comprising a semi-cylindrical open-work shell mounted over said inner aperture in concentric relation to the drum.

3. In a ventilator, the combination with the elements set forth in claim 1, of a housing portion comprising a semi-cylindrical open-work shell mounted over said inner aperture in concentric relation to the drum, said shell being provided with a circumferential band having a slot therein, and a control handle secured to the drum and projecting outwardly through said slot.

4. In a ventilator, the combination with the elements set forth in claim 1, of a housing portion comprising a semi-cylindrical open-work shell mounted over said inner aperture in concentric relation to the drum, said shell being provided with a circumferential band having a slot therein, a control handle secured to the drum and projecting outwardly through said slot, and means associated with said control handle for releasably looking it to said shell to retain the drum in a selected position.

5. In a ventilator, the combination with the elements set forth in claim 1, of a housing portion comprising a semi-cylindrical open-work shell mounted over said inner aperture in concentric relation to the drum, said shell being provided with a circumferential band having a slot therein, a control handle secured to the drum and projecting outwardly through said slot, and means associated with said control handle for releasably locking it to said shell to retain the drum in a selected position, said means comprising an adjustable member adapted to engage frictionally with said band..

6. In a ventilator, the combination with the elements set forth in claim 1, of a housing portion comprising a semi-cylindrical open-work shell mounted over said inner aperture in concentric relation to the drum, said shell being provided with a circumferential band having a slot therein, a control handle secured to the drum and project- 7. In a ventilator, themmmbmatinm the ammtssen forflhzm claim" 1; 10f kit-housing fiQlfi-On comprising-a .semiaoyiindrical iopienwwoirk shell mmteetmver saimlinnerraiperbure -in concentric mention to the midhousingipmttion mclwzl ins-xoomsed rendrwalls the--dmimis iflmflkdgw I 3 v 1. Inna vemtilamn .zfpri s waliwpenmgwa eylmdnicathou ins:mounted in-va idtopo ins with m axis horizontal and providgd mthtaperztumes 0;},1338 inner :andoutei'o sidos f s fl mmtit QM a. h llow cylindrical: drum mount dor concentric rotation within-1381M limin snugly qqntaoting relation theroto said da um having dosed iendstand bein providgd with m cumiren tiguy spaced-inlt and. outlet ports-lying mspw tivgelyiri-diametrically pppositg somicilcuial seg merits-of the drumpe riphery and av blower mounted: the-d um filial-Wait thmugh theuigiett port a,nd expel it throu h the' qoutlet nortlthe um n rior einQunQbstIucted' excep ionj said blewenksaid-winner bousing aperturethapva-v width o ppm m teiy 555 said outer h usiog ape tur ha ing .awidth otapproximataly 1241?; said housing havinga. part whiCh Jis between said apertures gndiadiacent to one edge of the mall S8i h using part haying a? width of approximately 10.

REFERENCES CITED PHTENTS" 

